About four years ago, I wrote a book and called it Best Seller. It enjoyed some success and more than a few kind reviews. It was one of the nine novels I’ve written, and one of my favorites.
Last November, I received word from Amazon (where most of my books are sold) that they had a problem with the book’s title. They deemed it ‘misleading,’ and advised me that unless I changed it in a few days, they would remove the book from their selling platform.
Wait, what? What??? The book was up for sale for years, and now Amazon decides it’s got a misleading title? And by the way, it wasn’t misleading at all. The words ‘a novel’ were right beneath the title. And, in one of many telephone calls I had with staff at Amazon, I assured them that the novel had never achieved its optimistically titled status.
Didn’t matter. We emailed back and forth numerous times, and I spoke with as many as six different service agents, but the answer always came back the same. And a week later, poof! Best Seller, and all of its reviews, were gone.
Now, I’ve re-released the book. It’s got a different name – The Way to Remember is the name of the book the main character, Robin, is working on – and a new cover. The book’s contents are the same, with just some minor tweaking to, I hope, make it better.
For many of you who read this blog, you probably already purchased and read the book years ago, so I don’t want to trick you into thinking it’s new. It’s not, and the novel I’m working on these days won’t be ready until the end of this year (if I can finish it).
However, if I can find your old review (I was able to take some screenshots before it disappeared), I will be reaching out to you, asking you to post that review again. Because reviews are so, so important to authors. I’m hoping you’ll be willing.
Anyway, that’s my news for the middle of 2020. What a year, right? I hope you’re doing okay – physically, mentally, emotionally. It has been challenging, certainly for me on all of those fronts. Be well, stay safe, wear your face covering.
Martha Reynolds Writes 
I have never heard of that. Who are they to judge a title? Maybe we can all start submitting titles to them for approval!
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I don’t think Amazon is very flexible once they’ve made a decision. It really sucks that you lost your reviews! Good for you for putting it out there again.
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I think you’re right, and they wouldn’t budge. But at least I was able to get it back up there!
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That is an amazing story. Censorship is alive and well. Should we go through the long list of other titles that ‘might’ be misleading? Sigh.
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Right, Jacqui?? Oh, it was so irritating. Eight months later, I’m more….meh. What could I do? I’ll try to get as many of the reviews back. Onward! 💚
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Martha, I still had my review on file and re-submitted it with the new title (I remembered to change it throughout the review!).
I await word that it’s posted. Sometimes is takes a couple of days. I will let you know when it’s up.
Five stars. Of course.
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P.S. I love the new cover.
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Oh, thank you, Connie! I had yours, as a screen shot. Thank you so much!
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It’s up.
To my dismay, I saw that amazon does not use basic html so I just resubmitted it with quotation marks around the title. It should be corrected shortly. 🙂
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Ooh, what a drama and my goodness, haven’t they got better things to police? Anyway, the new cover is lovely & I’m so glad you’re finding “completion” on this!
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All these months later, Pauline, I’m kind of over it. Too bad to lose the reviews, though.
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I just checked Goodreads and there are several books with the title ‘Best Seller’. Since I haven’t read your, I’ll have to check it out.
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I should update my books on Goodreads, Denise. I always forget.
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Last night I watched the two-hour episode about Jeff Bezos and Amazon on Frontline. If you have PBS available to you, I suggest you watch it. Quite eye-opening. Making me rethink my Prime membership, especially since during this crisis I get faster delivery from other companies.
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I hate that I need them to sell books, but it’s a fact. Will see if I can watch that episode. Thanks, Denise.
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I’m glad you were able to get in back on Amazon, even if it is under a new title. Congratulations!
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Thanks, Denise. I always thought the title ‘Best Seller’ was more optimistic than misleading!
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What a carry on! Grrr, oh Martha, I’d be so mad if this had happened to me but I admire your pluck and determination and not letting them beat you. Here’s wishing you lots of success with the re-launched book title. Put that in your pipe and smoke it – Amazon!!
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I did my share of wailing, Lottie – last November while Jim was in Austria. But I’ve always liked to story, so I was determined to get it back out there. Love to you and Pete in marvelous 🇪🇸
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Oh, holy… Amazon is doing some pretty crazy stuff lately. I will go get it, although I read it as Best Seller and really enjoyed it! Sorry that happened, honey, but sure seems like you problem-solved well!
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Nan! It was four years later! I was shocked. And as much I tried to plead my case, they wouldn’t budge. Oh well….
I hope you’re doing okay. 💚💚💚
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